Vending machine



April 1941- w. A. CAMPBELL ET AL. 2,240,389

VENDING MACHINE Filed Aug. 26, 1940 4 Sheets-Sheet l [0 -Q. Q l t Z AQH Wflnwmpbefl $1 JJZLaII/way INVENTORS- A TTORNEYS.

April 1941' w. A. CAMPBELL EIAL 2,240,389

VENDING MACHINE Filed Aug. 26. 1940 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 1 Z W11 Gampfiell MZamzz a I 1 IN VEN TORS.

A TTORNEYS.

April 29, 1941. w. A. CAMPBELL ETAL 2,240,389

VENDING MACHINE Filed Aug. 26, 1940 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 W712 CampZeZZ 7 g, J. Mlauway INVENTORS A TTORNEYS.

April 29, 1941. w. A. CAMPBELL ETAL 2,240,389

vsrwme MACHINE Filed Aug. 26, 1940 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 W. J: 7% aarrzpZell MLarzway IN V EN TOR'5.'

Patented Apr. 29, 1941 VENDING MACHINE William A. Campbell and Mearl-LanwamTraverse City, Mich, assignors to. Wolverine Ice. Cream. Vending Machine (30., Traverse City, Mich.

Application August 26, 1M9, Serial No. 354,314

7 illaims. (Cl. 312-63) The device forming the subject matter of this flanges rest on brackets is (Figures 3 and 2) application is adapted to be used for dispensing which project rearwardly'from the front' wall icecream blocks or other merchandise, and one of the casing l, to holdthe carrier II in the rack object of the invention is to improve the dispens- 8, against downward movement beyond the posiing mechanism, another object of the invention tion shown in Figures 3 and 1. The carrier H is being to improve generally, and to enhance the provided (Figure 3) at its lower end, with front utility of, devices of that type to which the inand back openings l5 for each vertical compartvention appertains. ment, so that the ejector, represented for present A preferred form has been shown, but it will be purposes by thepart 22 in Figure 3, can enter understood that a mechanic, working within the the carrier from the back, and shove out the scope of what is claimed, may make changes in lowermost pieces of merchandise l2, forwardly.

HT STAT that form, without departing from the spirit of The bottom of the casing I carries a box-like the invention. support I! (Figures 3'and 1), on which is mounted In the drawings? a U-shaped frame i8, disclosed in rear elevation Figure 1 shows the machine in rear elevation, in Figure a d in os Se o in Figure e the back of the casing having been removed; upstanding ends of the frame i3 are connected,

FigureZ is ahorizontal transverse section; Figure for strength and reenforcement, by transverse 3 is a vertical section; Figure 4 is a fragmental rods 59 (Figures 1, 2 and 3).

vertical section showing the means for rotating A horizontal shaft (Figures 2, 3, 4, 5 and 3) the shaft by which the selecting of the merchango is journaled in. the upstanding ends of the frame disc is accomplished; Figure 5 is a fragmental l8. On this shaftlfl, a plurality of ejectors 2| vertical section disclosing the cushion or dash pot. are mounted for free, vertical swinging move- The machine embodies a box-like heat-insument, toward and away from the carrier H in lated casing I, shownin Figures 1, 2 and 3. The which the merchandise is mounted, there being casing i has a removable back 2, which has been one ejector for each of the vertical compartments taken out in Figure 1. It appears from Figures of the carrier. The outline of the ejector 2|, as 2 and 3 that there is a compartment 3 in the to side elevation, is shown in Figure 5, and the front of the casing i. In the compartment 3 are relation of "the ejectorto the lower end of the carlocated downwardly converging chutes 4 (Figs. rier H is shownin Figure 3.

1; 2 and 3) that lead to a hooded outlet 5 on the Each ejector 2| ha a pr m n y presented front of the casing l. The inclination of the upp end and it is y means o e e d 2 that chutes 4 is shown in dotted line in Figure 1. An the ejection of the merchandise from the carrier opening 6 (Figures 2 and 3) leads from the com- I l is accomplished immediately, as Figure 3 will partment 3 to the interior of the casing l, and show. Theejectors 2| have cross. rods 23, which this opening converges -or tapers as it extends serve as 'abutments for the elements which swing backwardly, so that a door I in the opening may the ejectorsfrom the position of Figure 3' to operbe moved forwardly, without difficulty. The ative or ejecting position. As to the means for means for moving the door 1 forwardly will be swinging the ejectors 21,, as last above referred described in detail hereinafter. The downward es 2, 3; 4 and 5 show that radius arms and outward slant of the lower wall to of the 40 24 a secured to the Shaft 29, Close to the 9- opening 6 (Figure 3)is especially important, bestanding ends of the frame I8.' A shaft 3! is causeit aids in the delivery of the merchandise. J'ournaled for rotation in the uppe ends of the A fixedrack 8 is mounted on the forward wan radius arms 2 and'the shaft 3! has a plurality of' the casing I, this rack being of rectangular of radial arms 32. form, inrear elevation, as Figure 1 will show. A It can be seen in Figure 3 that the arms 32 are carrier II is adapted to be inserted downwardly spaced apart, circumferentially of the shaft 3!, into the rack 8, and with this end in view, the top n Figure 1 discloses the fact a the arms of the casing I is provided with a removable 32 are spaced apart lengthwise of the shaft 3i, closure 9, held in place by a locking mechanism here b in an a m for a h f h j o 2 ll). It can be seen, in Figure 1, that the carrier and adapted to engage the abutment 23 (Figure I i is divided into a plurality of vertical compart- 3) of the ejector. merits, in which the merchandise I2 is carried. In Fi re 4 there is shown a ratchet wheel 33 Themerchandise l2 may be blocks of ice cream, which is fixed on the shaft 3!, near to one end or anything else, and it is possible to load the of the shaft, as shown in Figure 2. When the carrier II with the merchandise l2, outside the radius arm 24 of Figure 4 swings in the direction machine, and then place the carrier, with the of'the arrow B, the ratchet wheel 33 coactswith merchandise, in the rack 8, as per Figures 1 and 3. a feed pawl 34 pivoted to a bracket 35 on one end The carrier II is provided at its lower end of the frame 18. When the feed pawl 34 is not with flanges l4'(Figure 1) which stop the downengaged with ratchet wheel 33, the feed pawl wardmovementofthe merchandise lt and these rests on a'stop 88, carried by'the bracket-35:,- a,

spring 36 on the bracket serving to swing the pawl downwardly upon the stop, and serving, also,

to limit the upward swinging movement of the' pawl, yieldably. A backstop pawl 31, pivoted to the radius arm 24 of Figure 4, cooperates with the ratchet wheel 33 and is governed by a spring 38 on the said radius arm.

Having thus described the means whereby the shaft 3| is turned, to present the arms 32 (Figure 3), one after another, to the abutment-s 23 on the ejectors 2|, the means for moving the door I outwardly, to permit the merchandise to escape, will now be explained.

Links 25, to be seen in Figures 3, 2, 4 and 5, are pivoted to the radius arms 24, and extend backwardly. The forward ends of connecting rods 26 are mounted in the door 1 (Figure 3) near to its ends (Figure 2) and slide in brackets 30 (Fligure 2) on the upstanding ends of the frame |8. The rear ends of .the rods 26 slide in the rear ends of the links 25. Adjusting nuts 21 are threaded on the rods 26, cushioning compression springs 28 being interposed between the nuts 2'! and the rear ends of the links 25, and strong compression springs 23 being interposed between the nuts 21 and the brackets 30 (Figure 2). When the links 25 move in the direction of the arrow A (Figure 2), they comprise the springs 29, slide the rods 26, and open the door I. When the links 25 move in the direction of the arrow B, the springs 29 react, and close the door I.

The springs 29 function, also, to swing the radius arms 24, in the direction of the arrow B, to the position of Figure 4, and in order to cushion the movement in that direction, there is provided a dash pot mechanism displayed in Figure 5, and comprising a cylinder 39 pivoted to a bracket 44 on the bottom of the frame Hi. In the cylinder 39 slides the usual valved dash pot piston 4|, connected to a U-shaped piston rod 42, the lower arm of which slides in a guide 43 on the bottom of the frame I8. The upper arm of the piston rod 42 is pivoted at 44 to the shaft 3| that is carried by the radius arms 24 on the shaft 30. The position of the dash .pot mechanism 33-42 in the machine can be seen in Figure 2.

Referring to Figure 2, the reader will note that the radius arm 24 which is at the left hand side of the machine in Figure l, carries a lateral finger 45 adapted to move in the direction of the arrows A and B. So far as the operation of the dispensing mechanism is concerned, it may be assumed that the finger 45 is moved, by any suitable means, backward and forward in Figure 2, in the direction of the arrows A :and B of that figure. Some prefer to operate the finger 45 through the instrumentality of a coin-controlled mechanism, indicated generally by the'numeral 66, but undisclosed as to details, herein, because an application for patent on a vending machine should embody no claims to a coin-controlled mechanism. Considered as a vending machine, the crank shown at 59 may be regarded as a means for operating the finger 45.

In practical operation, when the finger 45 of Figure 2 moved in the direction of the arrow A, the radius arm 24 to which the finger 45 is connected, moves in the direction of the arrow A, and the shaft 29 is rotated, the radius arm 24 of Figure 4 being swung in the same direction, by the shaft 20. As the radius arms 24 are swung in the direction of the arrow A, the links 25 are carried in the direction of the arrow A, because they are pivoted to the radius arms.

The rods 26 and the door I also are carried in the direction of the'arrow A, and the door is moved to open position in Figure B.

When the rods 26 move in the direction of the arrow A, the springs 29 of Figure 6 are compressed, and the dash pot piston 4| of Figure 5 moves in the direction of the arrow A, because the U-shaped piston rod 42 is pivoted at 44 to the shaft 3| that is carried by the radius arms 24. The shaft 3| is moved transversely by the radius arms 24, and one of the arms 32 (Figure 3) on the shaft 3| engages the abutment 23 on the corresponding one of the ejectors 2|. Here note that the shaft 3| cannot turn because the backstop pawl 31 of Figure 4 is engaged with the ratchet wheel 33 on the shaft 3|, and since the shaft 3| cannot turn, the arm 32 of Figure .3 engages the abutment 23 on one of the ejectors 2|, and swings that ejector in the direction of the arrow A, the end 32 of the ejector entering the rear opening I5 of the carrier II and shoving the lowermost piece of merchandise I2 out through the front opening l5, It being recalled that door I is in open position at this time, the ejected piece of merchandise moves forwardly along the inclined bottom of the opening 6, into the front compartment 3, and thence the piece of merchandise slides along one of the inclined chutes of Figures 3 and 1, to the outlet 5.

Suppose, now, that the finger 45 on the radius arm 24 of Figure 2 is released, so that it can move in the direction of the arrow B. When the finger-45 thus is'releasei-the springs 29 of Figure 2 (then under compression) react and carry the rods 26 in the direction of the arrow B, the door 1 being closed, as in Figures 2 and 3. The rods 26 carry the links 25 in the direction of the arrow B, and the radius arms 24 and the shaft 31 are carried in that direction also. One tooth of the ratchet wheel 33 on the shaft 2| (Figure 4) is engaged by the feed pawl 34, and the shaft 3| is rotated one step, thus bringing another arm 32 (Figure 3) on the shaft into position to engage with the abutment 23 on the corresponding ejector 2|, when the next movement in the direction of the arrow A takes place.

The arms 32 arespacedcircumferentiallyaround the shaft 3|, and the arms, one after another, come into play, to swing the corresponding ejector 2| in the directionof the arrow A, the lowermost pieces of merchandise |2 in the vertical rows of Figure 1 being dispensed, one at a time. The dash pot mechanism 39'42 of Figure 5 cushions the movement of the parts, as they move in the direction of the arrow B, responsive to the action of the springs 29.

If the merchandise at I2 is of such a nature as to require cooling, any suitable refrigerating mechanism, forming no part of the present invention, may be provided. As a disclosure of one simple refrigerating means, the drawings show an ice pan 89 supported on brackets 90 carried by the casing a drip pipe 9| leading downward from the ice pan through the bottom of the casing, as in Figure 3.

What is claimed is:

l. A dispensing machine comprising a plurality of merchandise holders, an ejector for each holder, means for mounting the ejectors for swinging movement toward and away from the holders, mechanism for swinging the ejectors, one at a time, said mechanism comprising a first shaft having arms arranged in staggered relation, means for mounting the first shaft for rotation, and for transverse movement in an arc thereby to cause one arm to move one ejector to ejecting position with respect to one of the holders, means for rotating the first shaft to select one arm and to bring it into operative relation to the corresponding ejector, the means for mounting the ejectors for swinging movement being a second shaft on which the ejectors swing, the means for mounting the first shaft for rotation and for transverse movement in an are being carried by the second shaft; means for mounting the second shaft for rotation, and means for rotating the second shaft.

2. A dispensing machine comprising a plurality of merchandise holders, an ejector for each holder, means for mounting the ejectors for swinging movement toward and away from the holders, mechanism for swinging the ejectors, one at a time, said mechanism comprising a first shaft having arms arranged in staggered relation, means for mounting the first shaft for rotation, and for transverse movement thereby to cause one arm to move one ejector to ejecting position with respect to one of the holders, means for rotating the first shaft to select one arm and to bring it into operative relation to the corresponding ejector, the means for mounting the ejectors for swinging movement being a second shaft on which the ejectors swing, the means for mounting the first shaft for rotation and for transverse movement being radius arms on the second shaft, wherein the first shaft is journaled; means for mounting the second shaft for rotation', and means for rotating the second shaft.

3. A dispensing machine comprising a plurality of merchandise holders, an ejector for each holder, means for mounting the ejectors for swinging movement toward and away from the holders, mechanism for swinging the ejectors, one at a time, said mechanism comprising a first shaft having arms arranged in staggered relation, means for mounting the first shaft for rotation, and for transverse movement in an arc thereby to cause one arm to move one ejector to ejecting position with respect to one of the holders, means for rotating the first shaft to select one arm and to bring it into operative relation to the corresponding ejector, the means for rotating the first shaft to select one arm comprising a ratchet wheel on the first shaft, a feed pawl with which the ratchet wheel engages as the ejectors move away from the holders, and means for mounting the feed pawl.

4. A dispensing machine comprising a plurality of merchandise holders, an ejector for each holder, means for mounting the ejectors for swinging movement toward and away from the holders, mechanism for swinging the ejectors, one at a time, said mechanism comprising a first shaft having arms arranged in staggered relation, means for mounting the first shaft for rotation, and for transverse movement thereby to cause one arm to move one ejector to ejecting position with respect to one of the holders, means for rotating the first shaft to select one arm and to bring it into operative relation to the corresponding ejector, the means for mounting the ejectors for swinging movement being a second shaft on which the ejectors swing, the means for mounting the first shaft. for rotation and for transverse movement being radius arms on the second shaft, wherein the first shaft is journaled, the means for rotating the first shaft'to select one arm comprising a ratchet wheel on the first shaft, a feed pawl with which the ratchet wheel engages as the ejectors move away from the holders, and means for mounting the feed pawl; and a back stop pawl mounted on one of the radius arms and engaging the ratchet wheel.

5. A dispensing machine comprising a casing, a plurality of merchandise holders in the casing, an ejector for each holder, a shaft on which the ejectors swing toward and away from the holders, means for rotating the shaft, radius arms on the shaft, another shaft journaled in the radius arms and having arms arranged in staggered relation, means for rotating the said other shaft to select one arm thereon and bring it [into operative relation to the corresponding ejector, a door carried by the casing, the ejectors constituting means for moving the merchandise through the door aperture when the opening of the door permits, and means operated by one of the radius arms for opening and closing the door.

,6. A dispensing machine comprising a casing, a plurality of merchandise holders in the casing, an ejector for each holder, a shaft on which the ejectors swing toward and away from the holders, means for rotating the shaft, radius arms on the shaft, another shaft journaled in the radius arms and having arms arranged in staggered relation, means for rotating the said other shaft to select one arm thereon and bring it into operative relation to the corresponding ejector, a door carried by the casing, the ejectors constituting means for moving the merchandise from the holders and through the door aperture when the opening of the door permits, means operated by one of the radius arms for opening and closing the door, the last-specified means embodying a link pivoted to one radius arm, a connection united to the door, a fixed abutment, an abutment on the :connection, a spring interposed between the abutments, and means whereby the link will slide the connection in one direction, open the door, and compress the spring, the spring reacting to slide the connection in an opposite direction, close the door, andretract the link.

'7. A dispensing machine comprising a casing, a plurality of merchandise holders in the casing, an ejector for each holder, the ejectors being mounted for swinging movement, a shaft supported for rotation, means for rotating the shaft, radius arms on the shaft, another shaft journaled in the radius arms and having arms arranged in staggered relation, means for rotating said other shaft to select one arm thereon and bring it into operative relation to the corresponding ejector, a door carried by the casing, the ejectors constituting means for moving the merchandise from the holders and through the door aperture when the opening of the door permits, a link pivoted to one radius arm, a connection united to the door, a fixed abutment, an abutment on the connection, a spring interposed between the abutments, means whereby the link will slide theconnection in one direction, open the door, and compress the spring, the spring reacting to slide the connection in an opposite direction, close the door, and retract the link, and means for cushioning the door during its closing movement, and the link during its retraction.

WILLIAM A. CAMPBELL. MEARL LANWAY. 

